(CNN) - Pennsylvania Sen. Bob Casey will announce his support of Barack Obama's White House bid Friday, an endorsement that could give the Illinois senator a boost in the crucial primary state that votes April 22.

The official endorsement is expected to come later Friday as Obama begins a week-long campaign-swing through the state. Several recent polls suggest Hillary Clinton appears to hold a double-digit lead there.

Casey is a first-term senator and son of a popular former governor of the state, Bob Casey, Sr. A prominent catholic, Casey's support could help Obama make inroads among catholic voters in the state - a voting bloc that has favored Clinton in most other primary contests.

In 2002, Casey lost a hard-fought gubernatorial primary contest against Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell, now an ardent supporter of Hillary Clinton's White House bid.

soundoff(86 Responses)

It's funny how supporters of HILLARY CLINTON are claiming that Barack Obama is unelectable. Obama takes California 49-40 in the general.

March 28, 2008 09:28 am at 9:28 am |

donnajp

One more male supporting Obama. How surprising? Remember getting endorsements does not win in November.

March 28, 2008 09:31 am at 9:31 am |

Anonymous

When the going is tough only the tough gets going!

"The harder the battle the greater the victory" Bob Marley

March 28, 2008 09:31 am at 9:31 am |

slm

Yay! Obama 08.

March 28, 2008 09:31 am at 9:31 am |

IveyLeague

Courageous. PA will be a hard battle. Clinton wins this battle.

Obama wins the War. Obama '08

March 28, 2008 09:31 am at 9:31 am |

Robert NYC & Miami

The Obanistas are going crazy over Casey!

Hillary 08!

March 28, 2008 09:32 am at 9:32 am |

Ken H

Thank you Senator Casey, lets narrow the gap in PA and have a double digit win in NC...that should put this thing away for good. Obama 08

March 28, 2008 09:33 am at 9:33 am |

Jeff

On the topic of the Clinton/Obama race I dont understand the argument with Florida and Michigan. Both states knew going in that the DNC was not going to recognize their votes. Clinton and Obama both signed the agreement. How is there a dispute here. Because Clinton is behind? Thats foolish.
And enough of this talk that "everyone should be heard". The only reason this race is still going is because Clinton wants to go to convention because she is banking on Superdelegates. Primaries have been going for years and the late states never count. I live in Kentucky and use to live in Indiana and we pretty much accepted the fact that the primaries would not get to us. The best way to solve this problem in the future, DNC, is to have primaries on one day. That way there is no single state campaigning where the candidates say how much they care about the state until they lose the state then they say "well, those states dont count".

March 28, 2008 09:33 am at 9:33 am |

Jan

I am more of Republican but this guy is impressing more people. With all the stuffs going on around him. He is really doing well ... much better than Hillary.

It is a good sign and news for him

March 28, 2008 09:35 am at 9:35 am |

Mike

Finally a voice of reason here in PA.

March 28, 2008 09:35 am at 9:35 am |

Renee Las Vegas NV

Great! Thank You Senator Casey.! Watch Everyone how the gap in PA slowly but surely begins to close. ....It never fails.

March 28, 2008 09:36 am at 9:36 am |

John, N.H

most of these endorsements are meaningless and worthless. Remember Sens Kerry and Kennedy?

March 28, 2008 09:36 am at 9:36 am |

Scott

Why does the Democratic party schedule primaries into the Summer if these states are not allowed to have their input into the party nominee decision. Let everyone have their say!

If Barack Obama is the presumptive nominee shouldn't he be clearly winning all states. He just lost two pretty big ones and he's about to lose one more really big one.

Remember when Huckabee (just before dropping out) was still taking 25-30% of the vote in republican primaries from McCain... people questioned McCain. If McCain is the presumptive nominee why is he losing 25-30% of the state to another candidate?

Okay. So why is Obama losing entire states (swing states!) to his opponent? Maybe because the voters are deciding this race – not the media.

If we let the media decide this race as they are trying with their continued Hillary-bashing, then we are not ourselves justice. The media wants Obama in the race because he's different, something new, a good story. But he wouldn't be a good President.

Unfortunately for Dems, he'll never make it that far. He may be leading in the general polls now, but once the GOP gets a hold of him it'll be President McCain. Rezko, Wright, zero experience... Hillary is being nice on these issues! Wait until the real opponent gets a chance to sound off!

Obama would lose Ohio and Florida, which would all but seal the GOP win. He might even lose PA.

The Dem party leaders should recognize Obama's vulnerability with these key character issues versus the GOP. And they should recognize his inability to carry the (big) swing states versus McCain.

March 28, 2008 09:37 am at 9:37 am |

Tom,des moines

Senator Casey, U and Barack Obama will lose very big in PA.

March 28, 2008 09:38 am at 9:38 am |

Edana Popp

Senator Casey, I hope you had a strong job offer from Obama, because what are your prospects now with the Democratic power-holders in PA?

March 28, 2008 09:38 am at 9:38 am |

JENA from Woodbridge

Thanks Senator Casey. This should be follow by other senators. Go Obama 08

March 28, 2008 09:38 am at 9:38 am |

Jennifer

Woo Hoo!

March 28, 2008 09:38 am at 9:38 am |

marie

Thanks senator, you are a very intelligent man, godd luck to you both.

March 28, 2008 09:38 am at 9:38 am |

Deann

In reviewing Obama's performance, the feelings is only word, copy other people's word, and closed eyes to make false statements to personal attack... I am wondering this is the American moral, and the president of USA for the behavior should be like that?

March 28, 2008 09:39 am at 9:39 am |

Rob

And don't tell Bill and Hillary to go home. If Obama can ever become president. Then the U.S will become so crippled and so messed up just like Iraq. If anyone should go home it should be Obama. He should step down so America can be made great again. We don't need him to wreck it further.

Clinton 08

March 28, 2008 09:39 am at 9:39 am |

mary

To Rick in Florida I agree with you completely...but I think also that the trial schedule for april 25 2008, is getting closer and closer...

March 28, 2008 09:42 am at 9:42 am |

Linda

... and the gap begins to close. I predict Hillary will win PA by no more than 7 points. In fact, I bet Obama nets more delegate out of NC than Hillary will from PA.

March 28, 2008 09:42 am at 9:42 am |

New Yorker

Thank you Senator Casey for helping to finalize the nomination. We look forward to the resolution and moving forward to repair American internal and external relations.

March 28, 2008 09:43 am at 9:43 am |

Southerner

This endorsement will have no impact on the primary. Obama doesn't appeal to Penn. Democrats. Casey endorsing Obama after losing to Rendell just looks like sour grapes, and one last chance to thumb his nose at Rendell. Nobody is going to take it seriously.